Consumers are collectively wasting £4 billion a year by paying a loyalty penalty for certain services – with a range of problems leaving people feeling “ripped off, let down and frustrated”, the competition watchdog has found.

Sir, – I am astonished that a councillor should favour third parties being given a right to appeal against approvals of planning applications (“Council plans to write to Holyrood to change planning regulations”, Courier, December 14).

With Dundee United under new ownership, Courier Sport looks back on the power changes which have led to the club being controlled by an American businessman with no link to Tannadice for the first time in its history.